Turnbuckle wrench



p 2, 1946- M. H. THONET 2,397,574

TURNBUCKLE WRENCH Filed Jan. 15, 1945 fit/temp Patented Apr. 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TURNBUCKLE WRENCH Max H. Thonet, St. Paul, Minn.

Application January 15, 1945, Serial No. 572,821

Claims.

This invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to wrenches for operating turnbuckles. v

'A main object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved Wrench of simple construction for use in connection with turnbuckles, especially where working space for rotating the turnbuckle is limited.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wrench for operating turnbuckles which are located close to other parts of the structure in which they are employed and which cannot be easily turned by ordinary tools.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wrench having a positive connection with the turnbuckle so that operation thereof by the wrench is completely assured.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a detachaable handle for the wrench of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the handle of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the turnbuckle-engaging element of the wrench of this invention.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the turnbuckle-engaging element of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken through the rear portion of the turnbuckleengaging element of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail side view of a guide pin member used in the turnbuckle-engaging element of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a front View of the guide pin member of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an elevational view showing the turnbuckle wrench of this invention in operating engagement with a turnbuckle.

Figure 9 is a detail view, partly in section, of the gripping portion of the handle of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, I designates a handle member comprising a gripping portion 2 threaded, or otherwise secured, to a shank portion 3. Hingedly secured to the end of shank portion 3 is a bifurcated member 4 provided with an offset body portion comprising bifurcations 5, 5, each provided at its end with a tapered rod portion 6.

Handle member I is adapted to cooperate with a turnbuckle-engaging element I comprising an open-ended hexagonal body portion formed to be slipped over a turnbuckle. Positioned in the open portion 8 of element I is a guide pin member 9 rigidly secured to the rear body portion of said element, said guide pin member 9 being adapted to enter a corresponding hole provided in the turnbuckle to provide positive engagement of said element with said turnbuckle, Secured to the end of pin member 9 is a spring member comprising resilient fingers I 0, I0 adapted to frictionally engage the hole in the turnbuckle to secure element I thereto by spring engagement. A plurality of holes II are provided through element I, spaced to receive rod portions '6 of handle member I in a number of angular positions so that said handle member may be engaged with said element I in a choice of angular positions depending upon the amount of working space available in the vicinity of the turnbuckle.

As shown in Figure 8, element 7 is slipped over a turnbuckle I2 with guide pin 9 and resilient fingers Ill, in engaging the opening in the turnbuckle to secure element 1 thereto in positive engagement therewith. Handle member I- is placed in engagement with element 1 with rod portions 6 of handle member I inserted in the chosen openings II of element 1 for most satisfactory rotation of turnbuckle I2. Shank I may be held at a right angle with respect to bifurcated member 4, or any other angle, depending upon the nature of the working space available. Tumbuckle I2 may now be rotated by moving gripping which may be furnished as a set of sizes of said element I to correspond with standard turnbuckles.

While a specific embodiment of a turnbuckle wrench has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it is understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it

is intended that no limitations other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims be placed upon the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A turnbuckle wrench comprising a U-shaped member adapted to he slipped over the body portion of a turnbuckle, said U-shaped member' being provided internally with a pin element projecting toward the open end of said U-shaped member and adapted to enter a hole provided in said body portion of the turnbuckle to lock said U-shaped member to said turnbuckle for rotation therewith, said pin element being provided at its end with spring means adapted to fr'ictionally engage said hole to secure said U- shaped member to said body portion of the turnbuckle, and handle means for engaging said U- shaped member, said U-shaped member and said handle means Vbeing'mutually formed and arranged to be detachably locked together in any one of a plurality of angularly related positions.

2. The structure of claim 1, and wherein said handle means comprises a first portion adapted to lockingly engage said U-shaped member and a second portion hingedly secured to said first portion.

3. The structure of claim 1, and wherein said handle means comprises a first portion having a contact element adapted to lockingly engage said U-shaped member and an arm oifset from said contact element, and a second portion hingedly secured to said arm.

4. A turnbuckle wrench comprising a U-shaped member adapted to he slipped over the body portion of a turnbuckle, said U shaped member being provided internally with a pin element projecting toward the open end of said U-shaped member and adapted to enter a hole provided in said body portion of the turnbuckle to lock said U-shaped member to said turnbuckle for rotation therewith, said pin element being provided at its end with spring means adapted to frictionally engage said hole to secure said U-shaped member to said body portion, said U-shaped member being provided with a plurality of openings spaced around the axis of said turnbuckle, and handle t means for engaging said U-shaped member comprising a shank element hingedly connected to a bifurcated member, said bifurcated member being v provided with a pair of rod elements adapted to 

